Posey Dillon (right) is pictured above with Danny Altice during a ceremony in February 2008 when Altice was presented a lifetime achievement award by the Rocky Mount Town Council. They were killed Tuesday afternoon in a collision with a car while responding to a call. Photo Courtesy Franklin News Post
Update July 27th:
Follow the discussion on FirefighterNation.com
WDBJ7 has the story on the house fire that Dillon and Altice were responding to here.
Here are some links to photo galleries:
Update 2145 hours:
It is being reported that Fire Chief Posey Dillon was driving Wagon 1 when it was involved in the deadly accident in Rocky Mount Today. Firefighter Danny Altice was riding in the passenger seat.
Neither of the two men were wearing their seatbelts.
According to TheFranklinNewsPost.com:
Dillon had served on town council for 24 years, including 10 years as vice mayor, and was re-elected vice mayor by council earlier this month. He had been fire chief for 20 years.
Altice joined the fire department in 1963 and served as chief from 1977 to 1984.
Be sure to stay up to date with the following in the LODD’s:
Roanoke Times is reporting here
Update 2115 hours:
The fallen firefighters from today’s tragic accident have been named.
Fire Chief and Vice Mayor of Rocky Mount Posey Dillon died along with Firefighter William Daniel “Danny” Altice.
Both men will be missed. More information following.
Posey Dillon was just re-elected Vice Mayor of Rocky Mount on July 5th. (link)
He was mentioned on VAFireNews.com previously when his dual role as Vice Mayor and Fire Chief were put into question. (link)
Here is a picture of Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice from the TheFranklinNewsPost.com (click for more pictures).
UPDATE 1845 hours:
Details are emerging about the accident in Rocky Mount.
Rocky Mount VFD Wagon 1A withwas responding to a house fire heading East on Route 40 when a vehicle pulled out and hit the fire engine. The accident occurred near the Sheetz in Rocky Mount.
Two firefighters were killed in the collision. One was pronounced dead on scene and the other was flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Wagon 1A is a 1988 Pierce Dash Custom which carried 1000 gallons of water. (Not a 1992 as I first reported).
Video has been added to the bottom of this post
UPDATE 1815 hours:
We have confirmation of two firefighter fatalities in Rocky Mount this evening. The firefighters are members of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department located in Franklin County, Virginia. We are not releasing any names until families are notified.
Please keep all of the firefighters in Rocky Mount and Franklin County in your prayers.
The apparatus was responding to a call for a house fire. The fire apparatus reportedly swerved to miss a vehicle that pulled out in front of it.
Here is a shot from the scene from WDBJ7
***
photograph posted on Facebook by Sandra Turner Young
Police are on scene of an accident involving a fire truck in Rocky Mount (Franklin County) on Route 40. The State Police are reporting that there was a fatality in the accident.
There is no word on whether or not the fatality was a civilian or a firefighter.
Roanoke Times is reporting here
VAFireNews.com will be following this story and updating as we have more information.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Northwest Fire, Rhett Fleitz and FireCritic, VAFireNews. VAFireNews said: VAFireNews: Breaking News: Franklin County Fatal Automobile MVA with Fire apparatus http://bit.ly/cYf6cy [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jessica Smith, Jessica Risent and Matthew Seethor, Mr. C.. Mr. C. said: Double LODD: Franklin County Fatal Automobile Crash with Fire Apparatus: Posey Dillon (right) is pictured above wi… http://bit.ly/bmdO1g [...]
[...] LODD: Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice Die in Accident [...]
[...] http://www.vafirenews.com/2010/07/breaking-news-franklin-county-fatal-automobile-mva-with-fire-appar... [...]
[...] …. VAFireNews … Firefighter Nation (click on the links). Share and Post on Facebook, Twitter and [...]
I feel bad for the loss of life, but still cannot believe that in this day and age we have people responding w/out wearing their seatbelts. Not surprised, just still can’t believe it. I hope people will learn from this preventable tragedy. Unfortunately though, just like DUIs though, no matter how many videos and pictures you show people of mangled cars, people will continue to do it.
[...] Fire Chief Posey Dillon was driving Wagon 1 Share [...]
JerseyMutt,
you have to be a real a-hole to bring up seat belts this early on. Maybe you could just mourn the loss of our brothers and leave it at that. Enough said. God bless these two heros families
[...] This is continuing coverage of our initial report on the Rocky Mount LODD’s of Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice. To view our initial coverage click here. [...]
[...] Initial coverage including links on VAFireNews.com [...]
DCFD,
Nope, just a realist. I mourn for the loss of life the same as anyone, but I’m going to call a spade a spade.
You mourn in your fashion and I’ll mourn in mine.
[...] Initial coverage including links on VAFireNews.com [...]
Addendum to my previous post. I wasn’t the one to bring up the seatbelt issue. It’s emblazoned in bold-face type in the article. I was merely commenting on that fact.
Thoughts and prayers with the two families and all of the members of the Rocky Mount Department.
JerseyMutt,
Yes the reports indicate that they were not wearing their seatbelts. It is unfortunate. However, Looking at the wreckage and knowing that type of apparatus and the way the cab was literally sheared off (top half)….the Lap belts that were in the apparatus would not have saved their lives.
My thoughts and prayers go to the families, and fellow brothers of RMFD. I pray God comforts you in these trying day’s.
The Rocky Mount community showed tremendous gratitude for their firefighter’s yesterday. I have never seen a more impressive display of gratitude!